thinkspot Presents

S2#26 - Independent Outlook: CRT, Vaccines, and More Aug 08, 2021

Join the Independent Institute as Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers, and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker discuss Critical Race Theory, Vaccines and more.

S2#25 - Better Left Unsaid Aug 01, 2021

Join the filmmakers behind Better Left Unsaid. Curt Jaimungal and Desh Amila are joined by a host of special guests, including Michael Shermer, Rick Smith, Vesper Stamper, and Marshall Herskovitz.

S2#24 - Independent Outlook: Newsom Recall, Woke Educators and more Jul 28, 2021

Join Independent Institute Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker for this week’s Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A. Our special focus will be on the recall Newsom efforts, woke educators, anti-racism and more.

S2#23 - Child Sexual Abuse Witchhunts Jul 20, 2021

In this week's episode, Bettina Arndt and Professor Mark Smith discuss the current panic over assumed endemic child sexual abuse in residential care. How and why the moral crusade against child abuse took hold, from the McMartin preschool investigations through to Satanic Ritual Abuse scandals in the UK, to more recent events involving Jimmy Savile, and Carl Beech, who falsely accused members of the British elite of being part of a paedophile ring.

S2#22 - Independent Outlook: July 4th Aflame, Post-Covid Education and More Jul 11, 2021

Join the Independent Institute's Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers (Director of our Center on Educational Excellence), and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker for this week’s Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A.

S2#21 - Bettina Arndt and Parents of Trans-identifying Sons Jun 06, 2021

Join Bettina Arndt as she speaks with two parents of young teenage sons who suddenly announced they were transgender.

S2#20 - Vaccine Passports, Corporations in Politics, Biden and More May 30, 2021

In this week's Independent Outlook, Author and Research Fellow William J. Watkins, Jr., Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker discuss vaccine passports, corporations involving themselves in politics, educating children during the pandemic, Biden and more.

S2#19 - Woke Women and Their Poisonous Friends May 23, 2021

Join Bettina Arndt and marriage coach Suzanne Venker as they talk about how dangerous women’s friends can be in undermining their relationships. Friends often contribute to women’s sense of entitlement and inflated expectations regarding the men in their lives, creating instability and destroying new relationships.

S2#18 - Newsom Recall, Woke Educators, Anti-Racism and More May 16, 2021

In this week's episode of the Independent Outlook, join Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers, and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker as they discuss the recall Newsom efforts, woke educators, anti-racism and more.

S2#17 - The filmmakers behind Better Left Unsaid May 10, 2021

Join the filmmakers behind Better Left Unsaid for a Q&A session on thinkspot. Curt Jaimungal and Desh Amila will be joined by Michael Shermer, Rick Smith, Vesper Stamper, and Marshall Herskovitz.

S2#16 - A Conversation with Nadine Taylor Apr 19, 2021

Join Bettina Arndt and Nadine Taylor as they discuss father's rights. Nadine is a former International Campaign Director for the controversial father’s rights group, Fathers4Justice (F4J) known for taking direct action to draw attention to their cause. She continues to be an outspoken advocate for fathers, speaking on TV and radio about shared parenting and family law reform.

S2#15 - The Independent Outlook - Biden's Border Crisis, Ethnic Studies in California, China and More Apr 12, 2021

Join The Independent Institute Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers (Director of our Center on Educational Excellence), and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker as they discuss Biden's border crisis, ethnic studies in California, China and more.

S2#14 - The State of American Liberal Arts Curriculum Apr 07, 2021

Join Dr. Stephen Blackwood and Erich Prince as they discuss proposed alternatives to higher education, the state of American liberal arts curriculum, and Stephen's burgeoning university project - Ralston College.

S2#13 - The Rick Smith Show with Marshall Herskovitz Mar 29, 2021

Join Rick Smith and Marshall Herskovitz for a Q&A with our thinkspot members.

S2#12 - Bettina Arndt and Cynthia Garrett Mar 22, 2021

Cynthia Garrett, co-president of Families Advocating for Campus Equality, returns to thinkspot for her second live chat with Bettina Arndt to discuss the developments by the Biden/Harris administration which are making it clear that their gender policies will be all about advantaging women at the expense of men.

S2#11 - Black History Month and Race and Liberty in America Mar 15, 2021

Join Author, Professor, and Independent Institute Research Fellow Jonathan J. Bean, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers (Director of our Center on Educational Excellence), and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker for this week’s Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A. Our special focus will be on Black History Month and Jonathan Bean's book Race and Liberty in America.

S2#10 - Rick Smith and Joe Walsh Mar 08, 2021

Join Rick Smith and former Congressman/conservative talk show host Joe Walsh for a live Q&A. Rick and Joe will be discussing the first 100 days of the Biden Presidency, the GOP's reality post-Trump, and the state of American governance.

S2#9 - What Actually Happened with GameStop Feb 28, 2021

Join our thinkspot Contributor Jeremy from The Aworkening as he dissects what really happened with GameStop, WallStreetBets and Robinhood.

S2#8 - Executive Orders, Border Confusion, and California's Errors Go National Feb 24, 2021

Join The Independent Institute for this week’s Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A. This week's special focus will be on Biden’s executive orders, border confusion, and California errors going national.

S2#7 - Merion West Writer's Room Feb 14, 2021

Join Merion West editor-in-chief Erich Prince and musician/journalist Tony Senatore for a look inside the Merion West writer's room.

S2#6 - Mud Sticks Falsely Feb 07, 2021

Join Bettina Arndt, Janice Fiamengo and Diana Davison to discuss Woody Allen’s innocence and how mud sticks to falsely accused men. The endless persecution of Woody Allen is a fable for our times, with many in the film world and mainstream media still supporting Mia Farrow’s version of events in relation to the sexual abuse allegations – despite all the evidence to the contrary. Please submit your questions prior to the event.

S2#5 - Critical Race Theory and Diversity Equity & Inclusion Feb 01, 2021

Join James Lindsay and Chloe Valdary as they cover a range of material, from America's DEI/CRT moment to these program's philosophical underpinnings.

S2#4 - Capitol Fallout, Censorship, and the Unfettered Biden Agenda Jan 24, 2021

Join Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers, and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker of the Independent Institute for this week’s Independent Outlook discussion and Q&A. This week's focus is on capitol fallout, censorship, the unfettered Biden agenda, and more. Learn more about their unique Outlook—informed by the principles of liberty and human dignity, and based on scholarly integrity and respect for the facts.

S2#3 - Rick Smith and the Capitol Riots Jan 17, 2021

Join Rick Smith for his first thinkspot Q&A of the New Year. On the heals of the riots at the Capitol, hear Rick's responses to the many questions posed by our members.

S2#2 - War on Cops Jan 10, 2021

Merion West editor-in-chief Erich Prince hosts author Heather Mac Donald for a retrospective discussion on the latter's 2016 book The War on Cops. With renewed contextual relevance, Heather will revisit her work and the research that supports her push back against the swelling tide of anti-police rhetoric.

S2#1 - Independent Conversation: New Way to Care Jan 05, 2021

Join us for an Independent Conversation with Dr. Graham H. Walker and Dr. John C. Goodman on Independent Institute's newest book by Dr. John C. Goodman, New Way to Care: Social Protections that Put Families First.

John C. Goodman is Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute, President of the Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research, and author of the widely acclaimed, Independent books, A Better Choice: Healthcare Solutions for America, and the award-winning, Priceless: Curing the Healthcare Crisis. The Wall Street Journal and the National Journal, among other media, have called him the “Father of Health Savings Accounts.”

Ep. #45 - Woke Women are Killing Dating Dec 13, 2020

When marriage coach Suzanne Venker posted an article suggesting women needed to lower their unrealistic expectations of marriage, she was swamped with angry abuse. Join Bettina Arndt and Suzanne in what promises to be a lively discussion of this issue.

Ep. #44 - Big Tech Censorship Dec 06, 2020

Join Erich Prince of Merion West and Seth Dillon of The Babylon Bee for a discussion about Big Tech censorship.

Ep. #43 - The Independent Outlook Nov 29, 2020

Join us for an Independent Conversation on overcoming the ACA healthcare mess. The Independent Institute discussed Christopher Briggs's recent opinion piece, "My kid has cancer and ObamaCare is making everything worse," published by the New York Post.

Ep. #42 - Jonathan Pageau and Carl Benjamin Nov 23, 2020

Carl Benjamin and artist/symbologist Jonathan Pageau chat for the first time in this featured thinkspot event.

Ep. #41 - Art and Truth Nov 18, 2020

Cellist Justin Hall and author/illustrator Vesper Stamper learn that they have much in common, namely - a love for the classics and an interest in how literature intersects with music/composition. In this episode of thinkspot presents, you can find them unpacking the artistic implications of mastery and interrogating the nature of truth in the context of art and artistic pursuits.

Ep. #40 - Rick Smith Joins Thinkspot Nov 09, 2020

Join Rick Smith for a special pre-election livestream Q&A. Rick will be taking questions and comments from the thinkspot community throughout the duration of the event, as he offers analysis from the perspective of the number one working people's podcast and radio show - The Rick Smith Show.

Ep. #39 - The 490 B.C. Project Oct 27, 2020

In response to the New York Times’ controversial 1619 Project, Bill Evers and Graham Walker propose their own history curriculum centered around the classics in an effort to revitalize an era that they allege has been neglected by primary schools across the nation. With an eye towards mythology and Grecian philosophy, the pair make a compelling case for the urgency of a return to the classics.

Ep. #38 - Rust Belt Realism Oct 19, 2020

Everything is fair game in this exchange between Merion West editor Erich Prince and film director Spencer T. Folmar, as the two Pennsylvania natives task themselves with confronting a wide breadth of topics, from the soul of the rust belt to the distinctly self-isolating malaise of Gen Z.

Ep. #37 - The Seeds of Our Divide Oct 11, 2020

Marshall Herskovitz and Graham Walker return for the second edition of their conversation series, this time tackling the seeds of the American political divide and how they have been sown by institutional failure and media narratives. Herskovitz’s perspective and analysis on the Democrats’ abandonment of the working class is particularly insightful.

Ep. #36 - Inside Hollywood Oct 04, 2020

Film director Spencer T. Folmar provides the thinkspot community with a penetrating view into the filmmaking profession and the environs of the industry in LA. His poignant remarks provide fascinating insight into everything from filmmaking techniques to the new Academy Awards’ diversity standards for potential contenders.

Ep. #35 - Cynical Theories Book Launch Sep 27, 2020

Professor Stephen Blackwood plays host to filmmaker Mike Nayna and co-authors James Lindsay and Helen Pluckrose for the launch of their essential new book Cynical Theories. This discussion traverses the likes of woke ideology, postmodern philosophy, and the politics of academia to form a compelling rebuke of contemporary critical theory and its influence on the public sphere.

Ep. #34 - The Psychology of Trauma and Woke Politics Sep 20, 2020

Writer and film producer Marshall Herskovitz is joined by the Independent Institute’s Graham Walker for a discussion on the psychology of trauma and its relationship to the left’s current strain of woke-ism. Herskovitz draws on his experience as an artist and political consultant to theorize on the dynamics that underpin this ideology, offering an insightful and compassionate approach to interpreting this phenomenon.

Ep. #33 - Covid-19 Intelligence Report Sep 13, 2020

Former Canadian intelligence officer Tom Quiggin answers the thinkspot community’s questions and offers his analysis on the origins of Covid-19 and the early days that led to its spread. His take on contemporary geopolitics also does well to shed light on the world’s most precarious hot spots and international relationships.

Ep. #32 - So Much Things to Say Sep 07, 2020

Join Chloé Valdary (NYT, Theory of Enchantment) and Jamie Kilstein (The Joe Rogan Experience, Conan) as they explore, well, just about everything. From hip hop and comedy to spirituality and politics, So much Things to say aims to help you figure out this f*cked up crazy world and discover the redemption in it -- and in yourself.

Ep. #31 - California Burning Aug 31, 2020

Dr. Lawrence J. McQuillan joins Mary L.G. Theroux, of the Independent Institute, for a discussion and Q&A on the California Wildfires. In 2019, the California Golden Fleece® Award was given to Cal Fire. The report offered solutions to prevent future disasters, yet here we are again with the state burning, and people losing their homes and lives.

Ep. #30 - Jordan Peterson - Savage Messiah Aug 23, 2020

Award winning and best selling author Jim Proser connects with writer Kevin Turner for a retrospective on Proser’s January 2020 release of Savage Messiah: How Jordan Peterson is Saving Western Civilization. The duo re-contextualize the book within the frame of the current political and social moment, providing a newfound urgency to the controversial philosopher’s work.

Ep. #29 - The Postmodern Polity Aug 16, 2020

Merion West editor-in-chief, Erich Prince, joins Professor Stephen Hicks for a critical discussion on society and culture, interweaving the latter’s expertise on matters of philosophy and history to compose an analysis that respects the complexity of our particularly historic summer.

Ep. #28 - The Independent Outlook Aug 09, 2020

Policy luminaries Bill Evers, Graham Walker, and David Theroux gather for the debut edition of the Independent Institute’s bi-monthly Outlook show. The trio cover a wide range of material, from the school-opening conundrum facing America’s education system to America’s continued civil unrest.

Ep. #27 - So You Think You Can Think Aug 02, 2020

University of Toronto professor Chris DiCarlo joins Merion West’s Kevin Turner to chat about the cognition behind critical thinking, particularly within the context of our contemporary world’s information media deluge. Drawing on his 2020 book So You Think You Can Think, DiCarlo provides a range of analytical tools to navigate the muddy waters of personal and media bias.

Ep. #26 - Transcendent Art and Political Polarization Jul 26, 2020

Artist Vesper Stamper takes on questions from the thinkspot community, as she makes the case for art as an antidote to our current political and social division. At what point does politically minded art become propaganda? Does New York still do justice to its reputation as the premier ecosystem for creativity and artistic innovation? Tune in to hear Vesper confront these questions head on.

Ep. #25 - Calling All Carnivores Jul 19, 2020

Join us for a ts Exclusive as Mikhaila Peterson sat down to answer thinkspot members' questions. In this lively and informative event, Mikhaila answered user questions about the Lion Diet, her coaching program, and her new podcast.

Ep. #24 - Nizar Zakka and Kambiz Tavana Jul 12, 2020

Merion West writer Kambiz Tavana hosts former Iranian political prisoner Nizar Zakka for a thinkspot exclusive on the one year anniversary of the latter’s release and return to the United States. Fielding questions from the thinkspot community, Zakka elaborates on his experience as a political prisoner from 2015-2019 and the current geopolitical posture of the Iranian regime.

Ep. #23 - The Post Millennial Writer’s Room Jul 05, 2020

The Post Millennial writing trio of Nico Johnson, Roberto Wakerell-Cruz, and Libby Emmons address questions from the thinkspot community, providing a look into the Canadian publication’s ideas and processes while discussing a range of topics, from the decline of neoliberalism to the state of policing in 2020.

Ep. #22: Vesper Stamper and Jonathan Pageau Jun 29, 2020

The artists pair presses pause on the social chaos of the moment to examine the protests in a way that refreshingly privileges people over politics. Vesper’s eye for narrative and Jonathan’s expert grasp on symbology combine for a compelling and nuanced exploration of this historical hour.

Ep. #21 - The Respondent - Greg Ellis interviews Stephen Fry Jun 22, 2020

Who is The Respondent? Over the last year, Greg Ellis set out on a journey to explore the condition of the male experience via his new video podcast, The Respondent. Enjoy the debut of this new series with Stephen Fry, and a post-podcast Q&A session with Benjamin Boyce, Gregg Hurwitz, and Dr. Gary David.

Ep. #20 - Life of the Mind, a follow up discussion with Bishop Barron Jun 16, 2020

Bishop Barron and Stephen Blackwood mark the launch of the Bishop's Word on Fire Bible with an in depth discussion of the project and its dynamic, interdisciplinary content.

Ep. #19 - Curt Jaimungal and Greg Ellis Jun 07, 2020

Kindred spirits collide in this latest edition of thinkspot presents, as up and coming filmmaker Curt Jaimungal picks the brain of venerated actor and creator Gregg Ellis. The pair dig into the philosophical flashpoints of Curt’s new film, touching on the phenomenology of belief and its implications for the human experience.

Ep. #18 - Merion West Editors Erich Prince and Henri Mattila May 31, 2020

In 2016, friends Erich Prince and Henri Mattila founded the digital publication Merion West, specifically as a counter to the predominating partisanship that had come to define the contemporary media landscape. In this episode, the two take stock of the current media environment and offer the same refreshing analysis that lies at the foundation of their ideologically inclusive project.

Ep. #17 - Life of the Mind with Toby Young May 26, 2020

“Freedom of speech has never been in greater peril at any time since the Second World War.” Toby Young sets the tone in no uncertain terms in his thinkspot exclusive discussion with contributor Stephen Blackwood. The conversation draws heavily upon the experiences of both educators as they contend with the hostility that surrounds free speech in both the academy and public sphere.

Ep. #16 - Merion West meets The Babylon Bee May 18, 2020

In this episode of thinkspot Presents, Erich Prince, editor-in-chief at Merion West, interviews Seth Dillon, owner of The Babylon Bee. Seth talks about the unique role of The Bee as a leader in conservative satire. Seth explores the philosophical underpinnings of The Bee and how their editors focus on freedom of speech. No political or cultural ideology is too sacred to satirize, which is part of the great popular appeal of The Babylon Bee.

Ep. #15 - Stephen Hicks and Mike Nayna May 11, 2020

When Mike Nayna began using his camera to document the efforts of the Grievance Studies Project, it marked not only an explicit certification of his filmmaking talents but also an initiation of an urgent and necessary autodidactism in philosophy. Stephen Hicks’ work proved a reliable and enduring anchor point for Nayna’s research as an exploration of postmodernism’s vice grip on modern academia. The two join forces in this thinkspot exclusive for a discussion of Nayna’s experiences and his future projects.

Ep. #14 - Chloe Valdary and Jamie Kilstein May 04, 2020

Is spirituality compatible with capitalism? Bernie Sanders, Jay-Z, and Michael Vick feature prominently as points of conversation in this exploratory exchange between comedian Jamie Kilstein and writer/social critic Chloe Valdary. Through the lens of their personal experiences, the duo wrestles with the material-spiritual tension in contemporary society.

Ep. #13 - Crisis and Leviathan: COVID-19 Apr 26, 2020

Historian Robert Higgs’ book Crisis and Leviathan takes center stage in this pandemic-centric exchange between Mary Theroux and Graham Walker of The Independent Institute. Originally published in 1987, the work is seeing a resurgence in popularity with the emergence of COVID-19 and its subsequent implications for the growing influence of government in society’s fight against the virus. Theroux and Walker make a case for the book’s relevance as a prescient forewarning against state overreach.

Ep. #12 - Life of the Mind with Jonathan Pageau Apr 19, 2020

This week’s episode finds Ralston College president Stephen Blackwood interviewing artist and symbologist Jonathan Pageau. The two discuss the philosophical power of imagery in art, society, and politics, touching on cultural cornerstones from the archetype of the Joker to the spiritual evocations of Kanye West. The conversation concludes with the pair addressing a series of questions submitted from the thinkspot community.

Ep. #11 - Genetic Technologies vs. The Corona Virus with Jamie Metzl Apr 12, 2020

In this special edition of thinkspot Presents, author and futurologist Jamie Metzl presents the virtual launch of his recently revised book Hacking Darwin. He is joined in discussion by famed geneticist Dr. George Church, physician-scientist Dr. Daniel Kraft, and Harvard Business School professor Debora Spar, as the group unpacks the current COVID-19 situation and its implications for health innovation in a post pandemic world.

Ep. #10 - Down Under with Dr. Stephen Hicks and Dr. John Quiggin Apr 05, 2020

The latest edition of thinkspot Presents brings us to Brisbane, Australia, where professors Stephen Hicks and John Quiggin engage in debate on the subject of postmodernism. Dr. Quiggin, an economist and democratic socialist, suggests postmodernism is a contemporary right wing phenomenon, while Dr. Hicks, a free market libertarian, challenges that claim.

Ep. #9 - Dr. Stephen Blackwood and Gregg Hurwitz Mar 29, 2020

In this week's episode, Ralston College president and author Stephen Blackwood interviews internationally best selling author Gregg Hurwitz.

Ep. #8 - Dr. Cameron Sepah on Dopamine Fasting Mar 22, 2020

In this episode of thinkspot presents, clinical psychologist and technology entrepreneur Dr. Cameron Sepah responds to a series of thoughtful questions from the thinkspot audience in his debut Q&A. Demonstrating an interdisciplinary range of expertise, Dr. Sepah offers his analysis on everything from the practical value of Jungian theory to dopamine fasting and the potential crisis of innovation in Silicon Valley.

Ep. #7 - Theory of Enchantment Mar 15, 2020

In this week’s episode of thinkspot presents, Ralston College president and author Stephen Blackwood interviews writer and social critic Chloe Valdary. The conversation centers around the idea of compassion and its role in opening up the world for the disenfranchised and alienated among us, as the two also discuss Chloe’s Theory of Enchantment curriculum and its role in addressing America’s social discord.

Ep. #6 - The Life Of The Mind with Dr. Stephen Blackwood & Bishop Barron Mar 08, 2020

In this week’s edition of thinkspot Presents, Dr. Stephen Blackwood, President of Ralston College, interviews Bishop Robert Barron of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. They discuss the relationship between rationality and revelation, the essence of knowledge, and wrestle with the meaning of life’s most transcendent moments as they contemplate the mysteries of Christianity.

Ep. #5 - Giving The Devil His Due Mar 01, 2020

In this week's episode of thinkspot Presents, Dr. Stephen Blackwood, President of Ralston College, interviews world renown skeptic and best selling author Michael Shermer, where they talk about Michael's influences, his history founding Skeptic Magazine, his record 214 consecutive articles for Scientific American, and his latest book out soon, Giving the Devil His Due

Ep. #4 - Think Again with Gregg Hurwitz & Marshall Herskovitz Feb 23, 2020

Critically-acclaimed director Marshall Herskovitz and best-selling author Gregg Hurwitz discuss the current political divide while joined by writer, broadcaster, and comedian Bridget Phetasy.

Ep. #3 - How to Choose Yourself with James Altucher Feb 16, 2020

thinkspot host and contributor Amanda Cassatt sits down with world renown author, podcaster, comedian and entrepreneur, James Altucher, to discuss the ups and downs of fortunes, friends and faith. James artfully explains how he made and lost his many fortunes and some of the amazing life lessons he learned along the way! Enjoy this inspiring and engaging conversation recorded live at James comedy club, StandUp NY, in the Upper West Side.

Ep. #2 - Cocktails & Conversation with The Femsplainers Feb 09, 2020

thinkspot host and contributor, Amanda Cassatt, sits down with Christina Hoff Sommers and Danielle Crittenden of “The Femsplainers” for an enjoyable, inspiring and hilarious conversation about life, love and the pursuit of happiness (amongst other things).